Here are a few thoughts arising from my men’s discipleship study I have been doing this week:
Why will God not answer my prayer? Haven’t we all asked that question? Sometimes, the ways of God are inscrutable. We will not understand until we get to heaven. But, there are reasons for unanswered prayer that are told to us in Scripture. One of those is an unforgiving heart.
“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matt.5:23-24). The God who has forgiven us so much wants us to forgive others. Unforgiveness is like a barrier that comes between us and our God. When the communion between me and another is broken, the communication between me and the Lord is, also. Thus, the command is, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25)
The old Puritan writer, Thomas Watson, put it this way, “We need not climb up into heaven to see if our sins are forgiven: let us look into our hearts, and see if we can forgive others.”
Is this the reason there is no joy in your worship and no power in your prayer?
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